Chris Lombardi puts defense and security under the spotlight, as he shares his takes on recent NATO and EU cooperation and provides insight into the company’s own long-term strategic partnerships in Europe.

Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

Ministers agree to toughen biocide rules

Tougher European Union rules on pest and germ-killing chemicals moved a step closer today, when environment ministers reached agreement on a draft law.

Ministers meeting in Brussels this morning (20 December) struck a deal on the draft biocides regulation, a proposal to amend the little-trumpeted law that regulates rodent poisons, disinfectants, insecticides, wood and metal preservatives and other substances ranging from fluids for embalming the dead to the coatings used to keep ships’ hulls free from barnacles.

These products have been regulated at EU level since 2000, but this proposal would introduce further restrictions on the most hazardous substances, as well as extending the scope of the law to all products treated with biocides (from sofas to smell-free socks) as well as the sprays, powders and lotions themselves.

Environment ministers opted for a tougher proposal than that drafted by the European Commission.

The Commission proposed to phase out hazardous substances known to cause cancer, reproductive problems or upset hormones. Ministers backed this idea, but also want to extend the law to exclude substances that damage the environment, by accumulating in plants or animals.

However both Commission and Council want an exemption list, so some products containing hazardous substances could continue to be sold if their benefits outweighed the risks, for example to prevent massive infestation of insects. This exemption list is likely to be the main battleground for chemical industry and public health campaigners.

The final version of the law has still to be agreed with the European Parliament.

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